How to Manage Athlete Selection
Sport Resolutions (SR) has dealt with over 120 selection cases since 2016 across 23 different sports. SR will be hosting an event on athlete selection which will focus on the elements required for an effective selection process, and cover guidance on how to achieve and deliver a fair process, as well as considerations in drafting an athlete selection policy and running a selection appeal procedure.
The event is designed for professionals involved in the process of selecting athletes for major competitions such as chief executives, performance managers and directors, head coaches, athletes, athlete representatives, selection panel members, in-house lawyers, lawyers in private practice, arbitrators and interested academics.
The event will take place online on 13 March 2026, from 10:00 to 12:00 GMT. The webinar will be presented by Alistair McHenry.
The event provides 2 hours CPD.
Seminar outcomes
1. Selection Frameworks and Governance
Purpose and scope of selection policies; Selection timelines and decision points; Interaction between selection, appeals, and independent review; Selection as a governance function
2. Objective and Subjective Criteria in Practice
Distinguishing objective, subjective, and hybrid criteria; Evidencing subjective assessments; Weighting criteria and avoiding “moving the goalposts”; Managing discretion lawfully and consistently
3. Understanding Effective Selection Process?
Clarity, predictability, and consistency; Proportionality and rational decision-making; Transparency without over-disclosure; Legal and reputational risk indicators
4. Drafting Robust Selection and Appeals Policies
Common drafting weaknesses in selection policies; Structuring discretion and exceptional circumstances clauses; Avoiding appeal mechanisms that undermine the selection process
5. Running an Effective Selection Meeting
Preparing the panel and materials; Managing disagreements and minority views; Recording decisions and rationales; Avoiding informal or undocumented decisions
6. Bias, Independence and Decision-Making Integrity
Actual, perceived, and unconscious bias; Conflicts of interest; Role and limits of independent observers
7. Equality, Fairness and Justification
Direct and indirect discrimination in selection; Justifying criteria with disproportionate impact; Consistency vs flexibility; Reasonable adjustments and safeguarding considerations
8. Communication and the Athlete Perspective
Managing expectations before selection; Delivering difficult decisions; Providing reasons without inviting challenge; Understanding how athletes experience selection decisions; how appeals are experienced by athletes, and how NGBs respond in practice, including what helps or harms the process.
9. High-Risk Scenarios
Late changes to criteria; Injury and “exceptional circumstances”; Team quotas and nationality issues; Public and media pressure
10. Practical Takeaways
Selection checklist for governing bodies; Red flags that invite legal challenge; When to pause, escalate, or seek independent input; Building trust in selection systems
REGISTER ONLINE: Seminars | Sport Resolutions